When I was choosing a photograph to give you today, I decided to focus on what we saw on our recent road trip: Sugar cane. 
We were passing the fields of Selati Sugar, near the Malelane entrance to Kruger National Park. Depending on which field you passed, the cane was in several stages of growth. Some looked to have been recently planted, while other fields were ready for harvest. I’m sorry I didn’t see any workers in the fields to also bring you a glimpse of that, like I’ve done with the banana fields. I hope there will be some opportunity for that next trip. 
I’ve run into many South Africans who love it when sugar cane is ripe. I come across them chewing it in parking lots or while working. I haven’t yet tried it myself, but I’ve already put the word out that I want to, so hopefully I’ll let you know soon what I think of chewing on sugar cane. 
But in the meantime, I wanted to pair today’s photos with a quote or a poem, so I went searching. What I found really wrenched my gut. I hope you’ll take a moment to click on the link below to read this brilliant poem by Alfred Corn:
“Sugar Cane”
Ag! I dream of writing poetry like that. Mr. Corn has received many prestigious fellowships and prizes for his work, deservedly so. I hope you’ll take a moment to look at his website and consider ordering one or more of his books. Beautiful.
Okay, folks. Back to the pen and paper for me the rest of this afternoon. For those of you just starting your day in the states, may your Thursday be sweet and inspired!
Love, Marla
Hi Marla, great story and sugar cane. Tomasa and her family of 12 in San Luis Potosi Mexico have and are presently dedicating thier lives to the sugar cane industry. In Mexico at the tender age of 10-12 years old you first and only job available is the sugar cane fields. It si very hard and rugged work. You get up at before the break of dawn and ensure you have a sharp machete and start cutting the sugar cane stalks as the sunrise rises and you are soaking wet of sweat throughout the day. You caome home at 5pm exhausted and you start all over again the next day. I know becuae I married into a family of Sugar Cane workers. I have the utmost respect for these people who work from surise to sunset with very low wages, but that provides for thier living and for most part they are happy and content. Just a bit of insight about Sugar Cane Workers.